• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.112-119
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the clinical significance of reverse redistribution(RR) phenomenon detected on delayed Tc-99m tetrofosmin myocardial single photon emission computed tomography(SPEG) in patients with acute myocardial infarction after revascularization. Materials and Methods: A Tc-99m tetrofrosmin myocardial SPECT was performed in 67 consecutive patients after revascularization for acute myocardial infarction. Myocardial SPECT imaging was performed for early imaging at 40 min and for delayed imaging at 180 min after reinjection at myocardial stress. Regional myocardial uptakes were scored by 4-point scoring in the left ventricular wall divided into 17 segments. Reverse redistribution was defined as an increase of more than 2 point in the activity score on the delayed image. Follow-up myocardial SPECT and coronary angiography(CAG) were performed 9 months later. Results: On myocardial SPECT performed following revascularization, RR was observed in 100 of all 319 segments(31%) and in 43 patients(64%). The abnormalities of perfusion and regional wall motion were more severe in the patients with RR compared to those without RR(p<0.05). On follow-up myocardial SPECT, the myocardial perfusion, regional wall motion, and myocardial thickness were significantly improved in the patients with RR(p<0.05) however, these changes were not significant in those without RR. There was no significant difference between the patients with RR and those without RR in the occurrence of restenosis on CAG. Conclusions: In patients with acute myocardial infarction, the regions showing the RR phenomenon on delayed Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT may reflect viable myocardium and indicate recovery of salvaged myocardium.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.314-322
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• 2014

Purpose: Diastolic dysfunction is a common problem in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The purpose of this study was to assess the role of MRI in the assessment of diastolic function using mitral valve and pulmonary vein flow velocities in HCM patients. Methods and Results: Phase-contrast MRI (mitral valve and pulmonary vein) and transthoracic echocardiography was successfully performed for 59 HCM patients (44 men and 15 women; mean age, 51 years). Forty-nine patients had a diastolic dysfunction; grade 1 (n = 20), grade 2 (n = 27), and grade 3 (n = 2) using echocardiography, and ten patients had normal diastolic function. The transmitral inflow parameters (E, A, and E/A ratios) obtained by MRI showed positive correlation with the same parameters measured by echocardiography (Pearson's r values were 0.47, 0.60, and 0.75 for E, A, E/A, respectively, all P < 0.001). With the flow information of the pulmonary vein from cardiac MRI, pseudo-normalized pattern (n = 8) could be distinguished from true normal filling pattern (n = 17), and the diastolic function grades by cardiac MRI showed moderate agreement with those of echocardiography (kappa value = 0.45, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Assessment of left ventricle diastolic function is feasible using phase-contrast MRI in HCM patients. Analysis of pulmonary vein flow velocity on MRI is useful for differentiating pseudo-normal from normal diastolic function in HCM patients.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.272-275
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• 2015

Pelvic bone fracture with unstable vital signs is a life-threatening condition demanding proper diagnosis and immediate treatment. Unlike long bones, the pelvic bone is a three dimensional structure with complex holes and grooves for vessels and nerves. Because of this complexity, a pelvic bone fracture can lead to complicated and serious bleeding. We report a case of a fifty-year-old male suffering from a pelvic bone fracture due to a fall. An imaging study showed fractures of both the superior and the inferior ramus of the pubic bone, with contrast extravasation underneath them, resulting in a large preperitoneal hematoma. He was sent for angiography, which revealed a hemorrhage from a branch of the left obturator artery. Embolization was done with a glue and lipiodol mixture. The patient recovered without complication, and was discharged at four weeks after admission.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2018

For the measurement of biophysical properties related with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), various microfluidic devices were proposed. However, many devices were monitored by optical equipment. Ultrasound measurement to quantify the biophysical properties can provide new insights to understand the cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to check feasibility of microfluidic device for ultrasound image analysis based on 3D printer. To facilitate acoustic transmission, agarose solution is poured around 3D mold connected with holes of the acrylic box. By applying speckle image velocimetry(SIV) technique, flow information in the bifurcated channel was estimated. Considering that ultrasound signal amplitude is determined by red blood cell (RBC) aggregation, RBC aggregation in the bifurcated channel can be estimated through the analysis of ultrasound signal. As examples of microfluidic device which mimic the CVD model, velocity fields in microfluidic devices with stenosis and aneurysm were introduced.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.154-157
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• 2005

Elastofibroma dorsi is a benign soft tissue mass, not well-known because of its low incidence, and usually located between the chest wall and the inferomedial aspect of the scapula. This lesion is not true neoplasm but rather reactive hyperplasia of elastic fibers. It is mostly nontender mass, but occasionally causes snapping symptom. This tumor should be considered as a differential diagnosis of snapping scapula. The clinical diagnosis is made by magnetic resonance imaging and confirmed by pathologic findings. We present a case report of a female with elastofibroma dorsi, who had that the chief complaint was snapping scapula and palpable mass. We emphasize that snapping lesions located deep beneath the inferior tip of the scapula on the chest wall should arouse suspicion of an elastofibroma dorsi.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2017

In this paper, the effect of battery-package shape of electric vehicle on the forced convection around a group of battery cells has been numerically investigated. Simulations for the two package shapes with straight/curved ducts have been conducted to examine the two design factors; the maximum temperature and the temperature deviation of a group of cells which influence the cell durability. The simulation of the conjugate heat transfer has been simplified by employing an equivalent thermal conductivity of cell that consists of various materials. It has been found that the maximum temperature and the temperature deviation of curved duct were lower than those of straight duct. Velocity fields have also been examined to describe the temperature distribution of a group of cells and the position of maximum temperature was found to be related to the dead zone of flow field.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.12-17
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• 2016

In this study, numerical simulations for the conjugate heat transfer of air with a heat-sink of CPU were conducted. The heat-sink consisted of many fins of cylinder shape and the effect of the number of fins on the cooling performance of the heat sink was investigated. Grid independent solutions were obtained to compare the maximum temperature of the heat-sink for various conditions. It was found that maximum temperature of the heat-sink asymptotically approached 310K as the number of fins went to infinity. The energy exchange of air with the heat-sink was found to be nearly independent on the number of fins.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2012

More than ten years have passed since the sentinel node (SN) concept for gastric cancer surgery was first discussed. Less invasive modified surgical approaches based on the SN concept have already been put into practice for malignant melanoma and breast cancer, however the SN concept is not yet placed in a standard position in gastric cancer surgery even after two multi-institutional prospective clinical trials, the Japan Clinical Oncology Group trial (JCOG0302) and the Japanese Society for Sentinel Node Navigation Surgery (SNNS) trial. What is the problem in the clinical application of the SN concept to gastric cancer surgery? There is no doubt that we need reliable indicator(s) to determine with certainty the absence of metastasis in the lymph nodes in order to avoid unnecessary lymphadenectomy. There are several matters of debate in performing the actual procedure, such as the type of tracer, the site of injection, how to detect and harvest, how to detect metastases of SNs, and learning period. These issues have to be addressed further to establish the most suitable procedure. Novel technologies such as indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging and one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) may overcome the current difficulties. Once we know what the problems are and how to tackle them, we can pursue the goal.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.81-91
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• 2018

Particulate matter (PM) in dust causes serious pathological conditions, and it has been considered a critical health issue for many years. Respiratory disorders such as bronchitis, asthma, and chronic inflammation, are the most common illnesses due to PM that appears as dust. There is evidence that cardiovascular and neurological abnormalities are caused by PM. Although an extensive amount of work has been conducted on this topic, including studies on the nature of the particles, particle size measurements, particle distribution upon inhalation, the health effects of fine particles, disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, to this date, there is still a considerable lack of knowledge in these areas. Therefore, the identification of the key components that cause diseases owing to PM, and the specific diagnoses of the diseases, is important. This review will explore the current literature on the origin and nature of PM and their effects on human health. In addition, it will also highlight the approaches that have been adopted in order to diagnose the effects of PM using positron emission tomography (PET) or single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT).

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.62-78
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• 2023

As the majority of incidentally detected lesions in the anterior mediastinum is small nodules with soft tissue appearance, the differential diagnosis has typically included thymic neoplasm and prevascular lymph node, with benign cyst. Overestimation or misinterpretation of these lesions can lead to unnecessary surgery for ultimately benign conditions. Diagnosing mediastinal cysts using MRI serves as a problem-solving modality in distinguishing between surgical and nonsurgical anterior mediastinal lesions. The pitfalls of MRI evaluation for anterior mediastinal cystic lesions are as follows: first, we acknowledge the limitation of T2-weighted images for evaluating benign cystic lesions. Due to variable contents within benign cystic lesions, such as hemorrhage, T2 signal intensity may be variable. Second, owing to extensive necrosis and cystic changes, the T2 shine-through effect may be seen on diffusion-weighted images (DWI), and small solid portions might be missed on enhanced images. Therefore, both enhancement and DWI with apparent diffusion coefficient values should be considered. An algorithm will be suggested for the diagnostic evaluation of anterior mediastinal cystic lesions, and finally, a management strategy based on MRI features will be suggested.